17 Things To Do in Tokyo This Weekend: October 29–31

1. ‘Black Witch’ Special Halloween Course at InterContinental Tokyo Bay

Toast to the spooky season with an original mocktail concocted by a resident witch using Halloween colors. The special course starts with a rose-shaped appetizer, followed by a seasonal mushroom gratin and a squid pasta dish with a contrast of black and red. Throughout the entire diner, enjoy a moody atmosphere and immerse yourself in the world of Black Halloween.

Until: Oct 31

2. “Pink & Shadow” Halloween Sweets Buffet at Conrad Tokyo

This year’s theme for the Conrad Tokyo Halloween sweets buffet is “Pink & Shadow.” Pink flamingos with gorgeous plumage have wandered into a shadow world where spirits of the dead have gathered. There, the pink flamingos watch skeletal flamingos devouring fabulous sweets that are far too ravishing and lustrous to belong in this spirit world. Entranced by these astonishing surreal Halloween delicacies, the pink flamingos forgot all their fears and join with the skeletal flamingos in this supernatural feast.

When: Until Oct 31

3. Haunted Château – A Witch’s Halloween Party at The Strings Omotesando

This hauntingly delicious sweets buffet doubles as a mystical Halloween party held in an extraordinary space with the image of a witch’s castle. Enjoy autumnal sweets such as Mont Blanc, which allows you to compare the gentle and elegant sweetness of Japanese chestnuts and the rich flavor of purple sweet potatoes, and jelly with the scent of pretty lavender and fresh seasonal grapes. You can also enjoy dark cakes such as gateau chocolate that looks like a spider’s web and chocolate mousse finished in pitch black.

When: Until Oct 31

4. “Flavor of Japan” Halloween Afternoon Tea at Conrad Tokyo

The finest Japanese ingredients were chosen for the luxurious snacks in this Halloween-themed event. Enjoy a Japanese chestnut Mont Blanc made with chestnuts from Ehime Prefecture simmered in syrup, a chocolate tart and apple mousse with Kougyoku (Jonathan) apples from Aomori Prefecture, and a chocolate spider web and blackberry on top. If you’re feeling more savory, opt for the leek and potato mousse with grilled sea urchin, the lobster slider with a hint of wasabi. Don’t be scared, because every mouthful will make you tremble with delight!

When: Until Oct 31

5. Halloween Sweets and Afternoon Tea at Hotel New Grand

Celebrate the season with special Halloween sweets and a Halloween-themed afternoon tea at Hotel New Grand in Yokohama. Enjoy a range of cute and delicious treats including pumpkin Mont Blanc and grave-shaped Black Forest Cake. The afternoon tea set features a range of Instagrammable cakes in the shape of mummies, ghosts, jack-o-lanterns and more, including ghost brownies, grave marron tarts, or bat framboise jelly.

When: Until Oct 31

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6. Tokyo Artisan Fair 2021

Tokyo Art Studio, in conjunction with Best Living Japan, announces the second edition of the Tokyo Artisan Fair, which will feature local artisans and small businesses selling original crafts, jewelry, eco, and kitchen products to incorporate into your life and home.

The 2-day pop-up fair will be held on October 29-30, 2021, in Minami Azabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo. With prices ranging from ¥1,500 and up, there is something for everyone to find for themselves, friends, and family this upcoming season.

In addition, the Tokyo Artisan Fair is happy to support ARK (Animal Refuge Kansai) in their mission of forming a network of foster families for animals in need, while simultaneously providing resources for pet owners to enhance their lives with pets. Other charities will be supported by various young community members through the sale of baked goods and kitchen supplies.

When: Oct 28–30

7. Tokyo LoveHotels Vol. 24: #SPELLONYOU

Join an extravagant night filled with live painting, DJs, popups and live performances at #SPELLONYOU while also supporting local Tokyo and international artists.

Tokyo LoveHotels is an art-event organization that exhibits creatives’ works without charge or commission allowing them to network, promote and perform with peace of mind. With a large gathering of local and international talents, Tokyo LoveHotels always creates a night filled with art, music, experiences and love.

When: Oct 30

8. Kogei Standard Exhibition “The Road to Tomorrow”

Japanese crafts online media “Kogei Standard” will be expanding its contents to offer more diverse information in bilingual format. A wide range of news such as the launch of new craft items, exhibition information, and reports will be published from this autumn onwards. HULS Gallery Tokyo will hold an exhibition entitled “The Road to Tomorrow”, featuring Kogei Standard. In this exhibition, we will showcase and introduce the works of various Japanese artisans and artists along with their stories and techniques unique to the production areas.

When: Until Oct 30

9. Jayderism The NFT

Kicking off this Halloween weekend in Ginza is the opening of “Jayderism, The NFT” exhibition, live auction (in the DARK!) and DJ party.

Taking up two levels at Shinwa ARTEX Gallery in Ginza, be immersed in a multi-sensory art exhibition, the first live NFT auction conducted in the dark, and an underground DJ party at Tokyo’s biggest digital NFT art show with over 100 works by the multi Emmy award-winning artist, The Jayder curated by Singapore creative director Warren Wee.

Showcasing his unique art style Jayderism, where digital is inspired by the cubism movement from yesteryears. “Jayderism, The NFT” is TheJayder’s first exhibition in Tokyo that would bring about never before seen digital works created between 2016 to 2021. Headlining the event is the multitalented DJ RHYME, featuring NFT collaborations with creative technologist and steaming talent “Cybersteffie”, visual artist and musician “OneTwenty”, dancer “CAY Izumi” (AKA Tokyo Dolores) and creative director and photographer “Warren Wee”.

When: Oct 28–31

10. The 64th CWAJ Print Show

The College Women’s Association of Japan will launch the 64th CWAJ Print Show Online Gallery on Wednesday, October 20, 2021. All art lovers are invited to view and purchase contemporary Japanese print art 24-hours a day from any place in the world for the duration of this event.

There are 220 beautiful contemporary Japanese prints by 207 prominent artists.

All proceeds from this exhibition and sale will go toward funding CWAJ Scholarship and Education Programs including the CWAJ Pandemic Response Nursing Scholarship. The Online Print Gallery website will feature access to two other special exhibitions as well as guided tour information for a selection of prints.

When: Until Oct 31

11. CrypTOKYO III NFT Exhibition and Charity Event

Art and technology combine at the latest installment of the popular exhibition series CrypTOKYO. Curated by experts at leading NFT marketplace Blockchain Art Exchange (BAE) which is produced by Bailey Labs, the exhibition, CrypTOKYO III, will feature works by artists represented by various galleries established under the new BAE Gallery system.

Some of the artists participating in CrypTOKYO III are TW favorites Jörgen Axelvall, Przemeck Sobocki and Aerosyn-Lex Mestrovic. Other creatives included in the stellar lineup include Ash Hudson (CONART), Anna Tsubaki and acclaimed lensman Yasumasa Yonehara.

CrypTOKYO III is dedicated to ALS survivor Hiro Fujita, founder of the END ALS Association, and has been curated by a team of his close friends headed by Jesse McFaddin (RIZE/The BONEZ) and Kathy Knowles (unKut Diamond).

When: Oct 28–Nov 3

12. Tokyo Midtown DESIGN TOUCH

Tokyo Midtown DESIGN TOUCH will be held for the 14th time this year under the concept of enjoying design with all five senses.

The keyword for this year’s event is “Behind the Scenes of Design.” As we continue to face problems for which there is no right answer, what hints can we get from design? More than the finished design, the hint may lie in the designer’s thinking and production process leading up to the finished product. You can enjoy the experience of discovering these hints by reading and understanding the various contents scattered throughout Tokyo Midtown.

When: Nov 3

13. Swan Lake at the New National Theatre, Tokyo

The opening performance for the 2021-2022 season of the National Ballet of Japan will be the classical ballet masterpiece, Swan Lake. Originally scheduled to be the opening production for Miyako Yoshida’s inaugural season as the artistic director of ballet and dance in October 2020, this has been postponed to October 2021 because of Covid-19.

This production by Sir Peter Wright is a stately work, full of dramatic elements that are very British. The dancers of the National Ballet of Japan have worked hard, further polishing their technique and acting skills. We can all look forward to enjoying the fruits of their labor.

When: Until Nov 3 (Check our event listing for performance date and times)

14. Kubota Sake Afternoon Tea at Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo

This afternoon tea is a collaboration with Asahi’s Kubota sake brewery. Taste a variety of desserts created with an alcohol twist such as tiramisu with yuzu liqueur or a berry compote marinated in Junmai Daiginjo. A head-turner is a dish inspired by the hotel’s garden, a milky soy dessert put together in a Kubota sake cup.

When: Until Nov 10

15. Jean-Marie Appriou: “Event Horizon”

Kaikai Kiki Gallery is pleased to announce their latest exhibition featuring French sculptor Jean-Marie Apprio, “Event Horizon”.

Appriou explores various materials in an unconventional way to deepen his thoughts on sculpture. He continues to challenge techniques that require a high level of skill, such as working with aluminum, glass, and copper, to create a variety of forms. In this exhibition, he will present two new series of works based on the themes of astronauts and sea life.

When: Until Nov 11

16. JR “Contretemps” at Perrotin Tokyo

Perrotin Tokyo is pleased to present a solo exhibition of JR’s work, new or never seen before. Consisting of early iterations of his “Unframed” series, dating back to 2012, as well as brand-new works created in his home city of Paris during the pandemic, the artist revisits his roots throughout this show.

Much of JR’s work deals with people whose stories would not be told otherwise — people whose lives are often obscured or hidden, by exhibiting their photographic likenesses on a monumental scale. With a similar relationship to architecture, inaccessible spaces and famous, over-photographed locations succeed in finding new language through JR’s lens.

When: Until Nov 20

17. Screening – Kinuyo Tanaka, “Where Chimneys Are Seen”

Kinuyo Tanaka is one of the pioneers of Japanese cinema, in both the acting and directing spheres. Her film career spans half a century, over 250 movie appearances and a handful of directorial roles. A look at her career provides insights into artistry and gender politics in 20th-century Japan. This exhibition traces her life and oeuvre through a number of personal mementos and 12 screenings, two of which have English subtitles.

When: Until Dec 12